Jesus axed by Aberdeen council
Plan to axe Christmas Nativity
Published:
ABERDEEN council officials want to scrap a city centre nativity scene – because they can only afford Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Aberdeen’s City Council’s plans for a hand-carved and painted nativity could be ditched because it was too costly.
And there could be further cuts to Christmas celebrations in Aberdeen with plans to dump a festive party for deprived and special needs children and street entertainment.
A report to the city’s resources management committee on Tuesday has recommended the cutbacks.
Some have been blamed on staff shortages in the events planning team rather than budget cuts.
Aberdeen council can afford three wooden figures – Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus – from its £10,000 budget. There is no cash for shepherds, and the three wise men.
Officers had been looking at prices from specialist carvers based in Italy.
A report to the committee said: “The cost of a carved and painted set to include Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus is approximately £8,500. It is not possible to get a full set for the available budget.”
The nativity scene would be the first set up in the city and officers believe it would be hard to find a suitable location for the scene without spending extra on additional security.
Officers are recommending to postpone the plans until 2009.
It is also proposed to scrap weekend street entertainers, including jugglers and a road train – which gives children a fun ride around the city centre.
The children’s party, due after the November 16 lights switch-on, could also be cut. More than 400 youngsters, including kids from deprived areas and special needs groups, normally attend the event.
Free panto tickets for community groups are also set to be taken off the winter programme.
Slashing the events would save £98,000.
Labour councillor Willie Young said: “It is a lot of money.
“It is a sad state of affairs when the council can’t even provide a decent Christmas for the people of Aberdeen.”
The main events for the Winter Festival, including a carol concert, Christmas lights switch-on and Hogmanay street party – are still due to take place.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “No decisions have yet been taken on the Winter Festival. A report on this year's events will be considered on Tuesday by the resources management committee, whose members will make decisions.”
Readers' Comments
Why is the Evening Express getting touchy over truthful comments. I was just highlighting the reasons behind Christmas now being called winter festival. People have had enough of PC madness. Christmas should be supported and promoted for what it is, a traditional British religious festival. Why cant our council let art students or school children design and make the nativity scene as a projest. Christmas cards made by children feel more special than shop bought ones, I am sure the same would apply to the nativity scene, and it would save £10,000 a win win situation.
Steven Thomson
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Bah humbug.
Alan Craigie
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I agree with Steven Thomson the council needs to get away from Winter Festival and call it what it is Christmas. People need to stand up and speak up for what is basically our rights that people have sacrificed their lives for so we have the freedoms that we enjoy today.
Doug Donaldson
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Christmas is not a religious festival, it is a Pagan festival to celebrate winter that was hi-jacked by the church and twisted to support the myth of Jesus Christ. Read some history! Open your mind! Denounce myths and lies.
Pablo Knight
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here's an idea dump the Bruce statue costing 250,000 and we can have the kids party and the free pantomime tickets and the holy scene plus security with about 100,000 to spare.
alister troup
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I agree with Steven, christmas isn't a winter festival, it's a Christian religious festival. I am sure there are a number of joiners/carpenters out there who would offer to make these if the materials were to be supplied. Some of the building firms might offer to make these, considering how much money they have milked out of their Aberdeen home buyers. good suggestion ot the students and school kids, if the council involved people instead of riding rough shod over them they might be surprised at how much help they would get.
Abbie Mann
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